Bachelor of Design (B. Des)

The Bachelor of Design (B. Des) program at Symbiosis Institute of Design (SID), Pune, is a comprehensive four-year undergraduate course totaling 160 credits. Upon successful completion, students are awarded the degree by Symbiosis International University (SIU), Pune, established under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956. SID's B. Des program is meticulously crafted to cultivate professionals capable of thriving in the dynamic and competitive world of design. The curriculum strikes a harmonious balance between traditional design principles, proficiency in new media tools, and essential soft skills, ensuring graduates are well-prepared for contemporary challenges.

The first year of this programme serves as a foundation, focusing on essential academic areas in design to support future specialization. Students engage in courses that enhance visual perception, effective use of sketching and drawing skills, an orientation towards the evolution of art and design, the role design plays in society along with an overview of the contemporary technological advancements. This phase also fosters the development of professional attitudes toward project execution and instills a critical, contextual, and historical awareness of design disciplines.

Post the foundation year, students can specialize in one of our seven specializations, each integrated with research, skill development, and visualization to align academic learning with professional requirements:

Graphic Design:Graphic Design focuses on transforming ideas into impactful visual communication through typography, imagery, illustration, photography, branding and digital media. The specialization develops creative and strategic design capabilities, preparing students for diverse careers across branding, advertising, art direction, packaging, publishing, digital media and emerging areas of visual communication.

Animation and Film Design: Animation and Film Design at SID brings together animation, filmmaking and visual storytelling to develop compelling narratives across cinema, television, gaming and digital platforms. Students explore 2D and 3D animation, motion graphics, visual effects, film language, storytelling, set and production design, cinematography and post-production, while gaining hands-on experience with contemporary tools and technologies to create films, animations and other moving-image experiences.

User Experience Design: User Experience Design focuses on creating meaningful, intuitive and engaging experiences by understanding users, their behaviors, needs and emotions. Students explore usability, interaction design, information architecture, visual design and human–technology interaction to craft seamless digital experiences across products, services and interfaces, preparing them for diverse opportunities in the rapidly evolving digital design industry.

Product Design: Product Design at SID combines creativity, technology and user-centered thinking to develop innovative products that respond to evolving needs and markets. Students explore design through sketching, 3D modelling, prototyping, materials, ergonomics and engineering drawing, while developing the ability to transform ideas into functional, usable and compelling products through a structured design process.

Interior Space Design: Interior Space Design focuses on creating thoughtful, functional and harmonious spaces by integrating architecture, technology, materials and human needs. Students explore concept development, space planning, materials, lighting, furniture, ergonomics and construction, using design software and hands-on processes to develop residential, commercial, retail and exhibition spaces from concept to execution.

Fashion Design: Fashion Design at SID offers a comprehensive and hands-on exploration of fashion, integrating design, craftsmanship, technology and an understanding of the Indian and global fashion industry. Students develop their individual creative expression while gaining expertise in areas such as fashion design, pattern making, garment construction, textiles, merchandising and retail, supported by industry internships, workshops, guest lectures and industry visits that prepare them for diverse careers in the evolving fashion ecosystem.

Fashion Communication: Fashion Communication explores the intersection of fashion, lifestyle and visual communication, enabling students to build distinctive brand identities and compelling experiences. Students develop expertise across graphic design, visual merchandising, styling, branding, art direction, exhibition and event design, publication design and fashion forecasting, preparing them for diverse careers as fashion stylists, visual merchandisers, art directors, fashion forecasters, graphic designers and retail or event designers.

Recognizing the evolving landscape of design education in India, SID's B. Des program boasts of close integration of technology in its curriculum which includes training in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality (VR), and augmented reality (AR), reflecting the industry's shift towards digitalization. There is a strong industry connection with the design community where design experts are invited to interact with our students about specific and generic aspects of design education and practice. Several reputed designers serve on our Board of Studies, conduct classes as visiting faculty, conduct master classes, appear as jury persons for term end jury examinations, and also as recruiters for internships and fulltime positions. The institute is also closely connected with its over 3000+ alumni who return back to their alma mater for meetups and "Design Gupshup" sessions apart from being members of our Quality Improvement Cell, Programme Review Committee, BoS Sub Committees, visiting faculty and recruiters. There is also a strong emphasis on Internationalization where connections with reputed international design schools are fostered to enable collaborative learning, research and projects.

By integrating these elements, SID's B. Des program not only equips students with the necessary skills and knowledge but also ensures they are attuned to current and future trends in the design industry.